Tell Walmart to Stop Rape and Torture of Young Women in its Factories

We are horrified and deeply outraged that scores of young women guest workers from Sri Lanka are being sexually abused and repeatedly raped while sewing clothing at your supplier factory, Classic Fashion, in Jordan. At least one rape victim was tortured: She told us her assailant violently bit her, leaving scars all over her body. Rape victims who become pregnant are fired and forcibly deported to Sri Lanka. Workers who refuse the sexual advances of Classic managers are also beaten and threatened with deportation. Classic supervisors routinely beat the women, throw garments in their faces, and grope and fondle the young women to force them to meet excessive mandatory production goals. This cruel treatment has been going on for years. No one in the United States will tolerate such abuse.

We demand that independent, highly credible women’s and worker rights NGOs from the workers’ own countries—several of which have worked together with the Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights—be allowed to enter Jordan to conduct a thorough investigation of the women’s rights violations at Classic. The meetings must be held in a safe location where company spies cannot intimidate the young women workers. Under these conditions, we believe that many young women rape victims will come forward.

Also, U.S. companies must insist that serial rapists, Anil Santha and Priyantha, not be allowed to return to the Classic factory. If he does, we will actively press our friends, family and communities not to purchase Wal-Mart, Hanes, Target, Macy’s, Lands' End, Kohls and Jones Group garments made in Jordan.

Moreover, you must ensure that the false charges against the internationally respected human rights advocate, Mr. Rafiq Alam, must be immediately dropped.

Finally, while we can never undo the torture and suffering these young women have endured, we expect you to pay very significant compensation given the damages these rape victims have suffered over the course of years. It is imperative that these women be able to return with dignity to their families in Sri Lanka.

The Classic group of factories in Jordan must finally be brought into compliance with Jordanian law and the labor rights provisions of the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement.

Some of your executives must have young daughters the same age as the young Sri Lankan rape victims. We appeal to you, stop the abuse.


Sincerely,